Airship sea beacon and service station



"Jiafi. 1 2, 193?. c. J. LINDQUIST 1,840,324

AIRSHIP SEA BEACON AND SERVICE STATION Filed Sept. 1'7, "1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1932. c. J. LINDQUIST 1,840,324

AIRSHIP SEA BEACON AND SERVICE STATION Filed Sept.- 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 12, 1932 1 840 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE CAB- 1'. J. LINDOUIS'I', Oil BROOKLYN, mrw YORK BIA BEACON AID SERVICE STATION Application med September 17, 1888. Serial No. 888,145.

This invention relates to buoyant pontoontration, is shown in the accompanying drawlike marine apparatus --which among other ings, in which- 7 things is adaptable for use as an airship sea igure 1 is a view in side elevation of my beacon and service station, and has for one apparatus with the beacon and radio aerial 5 of its objects the provision of an apparatus of omitted therefrom;

the character referred to comprising a cylin- Figure 2 is a fragmental portion of the top drical pontoonlike structure having a water portion of the apparatus showing the beacon ballast chambei iit' the bottom thereof, man andradio aerial supported thereon";

let valve for the admission of water into the Figure 3 is a view showing the position of 10 chamber to force the structure to assume an the pontoon-like cylinder when it is being upright position, and means for so anchoring wed to a osltlonto be erected; the apparatus that it will be maintained in F lgllre 4 1s a top plan view of a number of the said position in'all weather conditions such cylinders supporting an airplane landwithout undue swaying. mg pla form Another object of the invention is to pro- F 1gl1re 5 1s a vlew in elevation partly in vide an apparatus of the character referred 1 1011 showlng the mterior of the appato with an auxiliary anchoring device com- Ti -fill prising a disk-like member supported from Figure 6 1s a top plan Vlew Q taken within the apparatus and adapted to be'slid 011 line 66 F1gure 5; and into spaced relation with the bottom of the Flgure 7 1s a detail view in pontoon-like cylinder to form a leverage the chor stop collar. therebetween so as to produce a stabilizing fi 'lng now to the drawings in detail 10 anchor to readily overcome the buffeting of n t s a P n on-hire hollow cylinder proth i d d sea" vided' 1n the interior thereof with nests of Another object is to produce a device of q y extend-111g PP g r s 11- A the character described in which the maxiselles f $11011 n ts of braces may be spaced mum simplicity of construction and operaapart to form compartments f also P ti i d vide means for support ng flooring thereon ()th bj t d advantages ill appear where and whenever desired. -The compartas the nature of the improvements is better ment? y Vary number and helght understood, the invention consisting subl g P9 A compartment 12 stantially in the novel arrangement and col 1s P 'Q at the b tfJm 0f the relation of parts herein fully described, and cyhndel" Sald compartment bemg p illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ed to have water adnntted thereto by means wherein similar reference characters are of Valve 13 havmg Yalve Stem 14 Operable used to describe corresponding parts from the top of the y throughout the several views, and then finally Above the Compartment 12 there IS a mpointed out and specifically defined and in- P r q 15 havlng {1001' 16 'Q q rp dicated in the appended claims whlch 1s provlded w1th an opening in which The disclosure made the basis of exempli- 1S PP I hub 17 havmg a shouldered fying the present inventive concept suggests gi l enlarged upper. portlon of a practical embodiment thereof, but the inw t ag i ap an upnght tubular vention is not to be restricted to the exact demem er 8 en mg upwardly to the tails of this disclosure, and the latter, therepermost compartment The Said hub 17 l fore, is to be understood from an illustrative, so Supports m the reduced Ortlon 21 of the bore 18 a tube 22 havin a ange 23 resting rather than a lestrlctlve standpomtupon the shoulder 24 0% the bore 18, which The inventive idea involved is capable of t i it bl Supported t 26 i th b treceiving a variety of mecha p tom of the cylinder 10. Within the tube 22 50 s1ons, one of wh1ch, for the-purpose of illusthere is provided a hollow tubular standard perspective of 27 having a flange 28 at the top thereof (Fig. 5) which fits into the interior of the member 19 and rests upon gaskets 29 interposed between the flanges 24 and 28. The said standard 27 is referably of a larger diameter at the top tlian at the bottom thereof.

Secured to the standard 27 as at 32 there is a short perforated cylindrical member 33 to which there is suitably secured flanged plates 34 forming a recessed disk-like stabilizer or auxiliary anchor. A main anchor 35 similar in shape to the anchor 33 but prefer; ably provided at the center thereof with a universal joint 36 to which there is secured one end of a cable 37 securely held at its opposite end by means of a clamping collar 38 resting on top of a cover 39 on the tube 19. To erect my apparatus I tow the cylinder 10 which at this time (that is before erection) is provided in the chamber 20 with a pair of winches 45 upon which the cable 37 1s wound. These winches are geared to-' gether by gears 46 and'47 and geared to a driving motor "48. It will be understood that the anchors 33 and 35 are close up to the cylinder 10 during the towing thereof since the cable is still woundv on the winches 45. When the location for the apparatus has been decided upon, the valve 13 is opened which causes water to flow into the chamber 12 and act as a ballast to right the cylinder. When the cylinder has assumed an upright position the motor is started and the cable commences to unwind, carrying the anchors 33 and 35 downwardly. When the flange 28 of the standard 27 comes in contact with the flange 24 or with the gaskets 29, it will stop its downward movement, but the cable and anchor 35 will continue downwardly until the said anchor strikes bottom.

At thistime a stop 50 is slightly secured to the cable and is let down through. the tube V 19 until it abuts the flange 28 of the standard 27 when all further downward movement of the cable and anchor will cease. The stop consists of two sections 51 having clamping flanges 52 at their sides provided with openings to admit clamping bolts-53 to pass therethrough and these sections are also provided at the bottom with tapering diskportions 54. When in the position above referred to, screws in the hub 17 are tightened against the tapering surfaces of the disk ortions 54 which bear against the flange 28 o the standard with a, gasket 55 interpassed between them to make a substantially watertight joint. After this is accomplished the cable is severed near the top of the tube 19 the cover 39 is placed upon the tube, a loop 57 is formed on the cable and the collar 39 is secured at the bottom thereof. The winches 45 may now be removed from the cylinder.

Durin the lowering of the anchors salt water Wlll have entered into the tube 19 through the tube 22' since the standard is of a lesser diameter at the bottom than the inside diameter of the tube 22. To drain the salt water from the tube 19 I provide a drain cock 58 as near the bottom thereof as practicable. The reason for making the standard of different diameters is that the cable is heavier at the top thereof than at the bottom and a substantially good fit is desirable between the walls of the standard and the cable.

After the cylinder 10 is anchored in its vertical position a deck 60 is suitably secured to the top of. the said cylinder to provide floor space for the crew and for placing thereon a balloon 61 secured by a cable 62 to a winch 63. This balloon is used to ascertain weather conditions, wind directions and velocity thereof in the upper air strata.

A pipe line 65 leading from the floor of the deck 60 into the tube 19 provides means for filling same with fresh water and for collecting rain water to be used by the crew for drinking or other purposes. A cock or tap 66 provides means for tapping the said reservoir.

It will be understood that means of egress not shown may be provided between the different compartments in the cylinder, and the compartment 67 may be used for sleeping quarters for the crew and as a radio receiving and broadcasting station, the aerial 68 of which is shown in Fig. 2. A bacon 69 is also shown suitably supported from the deck 60. A mooring mast (not shown) may also be attached if desired.

An oil reservoir 70 (Fig. 5) provided with a pipe line 71 having a valve 72 therein and leading to the exterior of the cylinder provides means for supplying oil to the water in storm weather.

In ig. 4 I have shown a plurality of cylinders 10 supporting a platform 75 adapted to be used as a landing platform for aircraft for repair or refueling purposes.

The c linders are preferably placed in a wedge-1i e or triangular formation, the purpose of this being to deflect the wind and wavesand thereby creating a lee area in the ocean, in the shelter of which a seaplane may descend on the water and ride out stormy weather, after which it may be lifted onto the platform for repair or other servicing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a buoyant pontoon-like marine apparatus adapted among other things to be used as an airship sea beacon and service station, to which also a mooring mast for dirigible's may be attached.

It will also be seen that I have provided eflicient stabilizer and anchoring means that will prevent the device from unduly swayin dueto weather conditions.

aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the nature describe a submersible buoyant cylinder, adapted to assume a vertical partly submerged position, a tube centrally located inthe lower portion thereof, a stem extending slidably throu h the tube, a disk-like member secured to t e bottom of the stem, the stem and disk adapted to be lowered by gravity, and means on the tube and stem for limiting the said lowering movement.

2. In an apparatus of the nature described, a submersible buoyant cylinder, adapted to assume avertical partly submerged position, a tube centrally located in the lower rtion thereof, a stem extending slidably t rou h the tube, a disk-like member secured to t e bottom of the stem, the stem and disk adapted to be lowered by gravity, a collar in the cylinder in which the tube is maintained, a second tube in the collar extending upwardly therefrom, a flange on the stem having a sliding'fit in the last mentioned tube forming guiding means for lowering the disk, and means on the lower tube against which the flange on the stem abuts to limit the said lowering movement.

3. In an apparatus of the nature described, a submersible buoyant cylinder, adapted to assume a vertical partly submerged position, a tube centrally located in the lower portion thereof, a stem extending slidably through the tube, a disk-like member secured to the bottom of the stem, the stem and disk adapted to be lowered by gravity, a collar in the cylinder in which the tube is maintained, a second tube in the collar extending upwardly therefrom, a flange on the stem having a sliding fit in the last mentioned tube forming guiding means for lowering the disk, means on the lower tube against which the flange on the stem abuts to limit the said lowering movement, a cablepassing through the stem and upper tube, an anchor secured to the lower end of the cable, and a stop secured to the cable adapted to abut the flange of the stem when the anchor is in its lowermost position.

4. In combination, a partly submersible cylinder, a support in the cylinder, an upwardly extending tube in the support, a downwardly extending tube in the support, a stem adapted to slide within the said tubes, and to extend a considerable distance beyond the lower end of the cylinder, a disk-like member at the lower end of the stem, a cable passing through the stem, an anchor at the lower end of the cable, means to limit the distance of the extension of the stem, and means on the cable in operative engagement with the stem to maintain the anchor in its lowered position.

5. In an apparatus of the nature described,

a submersible cylindrical tube, a. valve at the bottom thereof, and a stabilizing anchor supported from within the tube and provided with openings in the peripheral wall thereof to admit water into the cylinder when the valve is opened.

6 In combination, a part1 submersible cyhnder, a support in the cy inder, an upwardly extending tube in the support, a downwardly extending tube in the support, a stem adapted to slide within the said tubes, and to extend a considerable distance beyond the lower end of the cylinder, -a disk-like member at the lower end of the stem, 2. cable passing through the stem, an anchor at the lower end of the cable, means to limit the distance of the, extension of the stem, and means on the cable in operative engagement with the stem to maintain the anchor in its lowered position, the said means comprising a air of members clampingly secured to the ca le.

7 In combination, a part1 submersible cylinder, a support in the cy inder, an upwardly extending tube in the support, a downwardly extending tube in the support, a stem adapted to slide within the said tubes, and to extend a considerable distance beyond the lower end of the cylinder, a disk-like member at the lower end of the stem, a cable passing through the stem, an anchor at the lower end of the cable, means to limit the distance of the extension of the stem, means on the cable to form a watertight joint between the stem and lower tube comprising a pair of sections secured to the cable, a disk portion on each of the sections, a tapered upper surface on each of the disk sections, a gasket interposed between the bottom of the disk sections and the upper end of the stem, gaskets between the upper ends of the stem and the lower tube, and screws in the support coacting with the tapered surfaces on the disklike sections to force the same against the gaskets. Y

8. In an apparatus of the nature described, a buoyant submersible body, a stabilizing anchor, a cable for securing the anchor to the submersible body and a slidable tube through which the said cable passes.

9. The method of mooring a vessel by utilizing the principle of leverage, consisting in projecting from the vessel a slidable hollow stem, leading an anchor cable through it and thus reduce the strain on said cable.

10. The method of creating a lee area in the ocean, consisting in stationing one or more elongated buoyant submersible chambers in a vertical position, projecting from the chambers to apoint below wave action, one or more hollow stems having at their lower ends a rigidly secured disk like member of such area, that its inertia iss'ufiicient to counteract undue heaving and swaying of thechambers when exposed to wind and waves.

11. The method of mooring a vessel by utilizing the principle of leverage, consisting in projecting from thevessel a stem carrying a submerged disc thereon, leading an anchor cable therefrom to provide a leverage system providing for a minimum strain on 5 said cable.

12. In an apparatus of the nature described, a buoyant submergible float, a disc attached thereto and arranged considerably therebeneath for providing a stabilizing medium for said float, an anchoring cable secured to said float assembly below said disc.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. l5 CARL J. LINDQUIST. 

